Hunter started working with John Jansen in 1987 on American Music which is a majestic tribute to the great early rockers that inspired Ian to pursue music and also features a terrific video montage with Ian and the late great Mick Ronson on guitar. Ronson got interested in playing guitar again and getting back to recording with strong songs such as this one. An early version and demo can be found on Sampling In Reality while the single and album track was originally issued on YUI Orta. Finally, there is a live 1988 version on Missing In Action.
American Music received some push by Ian's record company with the promo video as few of Hunter's song were marketed well but this is a well-done professional effort for once. Ian consistently has released songs appreciative of the roots of rock and this is clear in the lyrics of this song as well. During the video that accompanied the release of the song early rock, blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues stars appear in the background complementing the lyrics.
He writes of dreaming to get out of his hum drum youth with "honky tonk heroes" of American music from Memphis, Harlem, Nashville, New Orleans, and the Windy City. Hunter has noted his fascination with American cities, history, and names at times and this tune is a celebration of American music that crossed the pond and touched him during his youth in England. The celebration of youth and music that inspired Ian is brilliantly portrayed by picturing a young boy playing air guitar in the mirror.
"The Killer," Jerry Lee Lewis, is one of the most highly visible and appropriately depicted stars in the video since he was a big influence on Ian. The blandness of the black and white world of Hunter's British upbringing accurately contrasts Ian's youth with the joy of American music. An English kid bearing a resemblance to the floppy blonde haired locks of Jerry Lee looks longingly at a music store and dreams of what could be.
The pioneers and groundbreaking artists such as Lewis that appear are Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Otis Redding (including a direct tribute quoting "sitting on the dock of the bay"), Bill Haley, and Little Richard.
This is one of the those songs that seems like it should have been a hit since it had so many things going for it. Great guitar work by Ronson, a tribute to the power of rock by Ian, and a strong marketing video push.
Writing the song Hunter resisted calling it by the title since it sounded like it could be an Exxon commercial but there was no way around it. After three months he felt it was complete and it is a sincere tribute to American music. As kids they listened to the Light Program on the BBC but twice a week they would play Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On or Hound Dog. Young people listened all the time since there was no warning when the good music was coming on. Ian says it was like a letter from a friend when the great tunes came across the air waves.
An awesome promotional video was filmed at a disused mental institution at Teddington in Middlesex which accompanied the song.
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Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
American Music
(Ian Hunter)
I have a dream-its only one dream
But I know dreams can come true
And I have a wish-its only one wish
But I know wishes can too
I wanna be-faraway from here
With those honky tonk heroes-burnin' my ears-oh
Love American music-I play it all night long
Just me n' records-n' a vivid imagination
I love to dance in the mirror-I practice every single word
And it seems to me American music-is all I've ever heard
Oh oh oh-oh oh oh its lonely on the underground
I sit and watch my world go round n' round n' round n' round n' round
I sit and watch the world go round
I hear the sons of Memphis-I hear the brothers or Harlem
I hear the Nashville Cats n' the rag time mamas outa New Orleans
I hear the Windy City-I hear a gospel singers hymn-and it seems to me
American music is all there's ever been
C'mon baby oh oh -oh oh-oo-oo
I love the names of the cities-I hear the echo echoing
And it seems to me American music is all there's ever been
Sittin' on the dock of the bay 2xWith my girl yesWith my girl Repeathttps://youtu.be/X67Scbwrdn4
| American Music | 4:13 | A single and album track, originally issued on YUI Orta. It can also be found on the compilation Family Anthology. |
| American Music (live 11th June 1988) | 3:49 | This live version (recorded at Rock and Roll Heaven, Toronto ON) can be found on Missing In Action (not on the box set). |
| American Music (early version) | 3:49 | This early version/demo can be found on Sampling In Reality. |
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